Kent · England
Tapas Catering in Shepway
From the first sizzle of the sofrito to the last spoonful of crispy rice, Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella makes the food a highlight of your event in Shepway.
- Canapés with welcome drinks
- Cocktail parties
- Birthday and anniversary parties
Tapas catering near Shepway
Events we cater in Shepway
They cover lots of tastes and diets in one spread.
We’re booked for all kinds of occasions in Shepway and nearby. Some of the most common are:
- Evening sharing boards
- Cocktail parties
- Tapas before paella
- Office parties and launches
Historic buildings near Shepway often have strict catering rules, so ask early if that’s your venue.
Before you book anyone
- How dietary needs and allergies are handled
- When final numbers are due
- When payment is due
- What the caterer needs from your venue
Tapas catering in Shepway, cooked live
Tapas are sharing food, made for conversation. Canapés go round while guests mingle, or table tapas go out to share. On the menu are patatas bravas, tortilla española and gambas al ajillo, and we’re frequently booked for launches and office parties and birthday drinks.
In Shepway, tapas work at home or in a local hall. You can add tapas, desserts, sangria, bar staff and waiting staff, so one booking can cover the whole menu.
What we need at the venue
We will be honest if a space won’t work, and suggest an alternative. The main points are:
- Parking near the venue
- Space on each table
- An area to prepare hot tapas
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we’ll advise before booking.
On the menu in Shepway
- Tortilla española
- Gambas al ajillo
- Olives & bread
- Manchego & membrillo
- Chorizo in red wine
- Serrano ham
- Padrón peppers
- Albóndigas
- Patatas bravas
- Croquetas
Paella compared with other options
A plated starter needs a kitchen and staff. Table tapas are shared and relaxed. Access and travel can make a difference to the cost, so it helps to tell us about your venue. The full price is confirmed before you book.
Why us?
- Options for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests, each in its own pan
- Everything cooked fresh at your event
- Cooking your guests will gather round to watch
- We cover Shepway and the whole of Kent
Read Our pricing And Our guide to catering costs.
How we price tapas catering
Every event is priced individually, and the price depends on a few things:
- The number of people
- The length of service
- How many staff you need
- Parking and unloading
Compared with a plated meal, live paella is frequently good value, because it needs no kitchen and fewer staff. Ask us for a quote.
What we need to know
We can quote more accurately with a few details. Here’s what’s useful:
- Any dietary needs and allergies
- The courses you’d like
- Anything your venue supplies
- The date and time of the event
It is easy to get a price: tell us the date, place, numbers and any dietary needs. We will come back with a clear quote and a suggested menu.
DIY paella versus live catering
Cooking paella for a crowd yourself is possible, but it’s harder than it looks. Large pans need the right burners, and getting the rice right at scale is tricky. Read how to cook paella for a crowd.
Hiring a pan and burner is one option, but there is shopping, prep and hours of cooking. A caterer handles all of that.
FAQs for Shepway
Can you cater a reception after a service at St Martin's Church?
Yes, at a nearby garden, marquee or hall where we can cook. Live cooking generally happens at the reception venue, not the church. Tell us where the reception will be.
Could we have live paella in Mote Park?
Only if the landowner, usually the council, allows it. Ask them first, and we’ll send any information they need.
Do you clear up afterwards?
We pack down our cooking area after service. Waiting staff can clear tables if you book them.
Do you offer halal options?
Yes. We use halal chicken and leave out pork and alcohol, in its own pan.
When should we book?
Early, particularly for summer Saturdays. Ask about your date even if it is soon.
Should we have more than one paella?
Two or three is usual: meat or mixed, seafood, and vegetable or vegan. We will help you decide the split.
What happens if it rains?
A covered, ventilated spot keeps us cooking in the rain. We’ll make a plan B with you.
Are there vegetarian tapas?
Yes. Tortilla, bravas and Manchego are popular vegetarian choices.
Also near Shepway
Other catering in Shepway
About the dishes
Patatas bravas
A tapas classic and typically vegetarian.
Manchego & membrillo
A simple, classic pairing.
What happens on the day
The cooking is part of the entertainment. We start with the sofrito, add the stock and saffron, then spread the rice across the pan and leave it alone to cook. Sunset in Shepway is around 9:15pm in June, so canapés can go round outdoors on a summer evening.
- We check your date.
- You choose canapés, table tapas or both.
- We set up on arrival.
- We serve the spread.
- Afterwards, we clear up.
How to prepare
- Tell us where to park and unload
- Let us know who to talk to on the day
- Tell us when you want to eat
How to get a price
We quote for each event separately, so you only pay for what you need. For a quote, fill in our quote form.
Planning help
For planners, venues and organisers
Booking for a company? Tell us what your finance team needs, and we will talk you through the process. We are happy to liaise with facilities on access and timings.
Venues often have their own rules about outside caterers: cooking areas, access times and documents. Tell us what your venue needs and we’ll work to it.
Receptions and parties in Shepway
Shepway is about 1 mile south-east of Maidstone, in Kent. Wherever your event is in the ME15 area, we can bring the pans to you. Shepway is one of 922 places in Kent we cover. You can also see our page for Canterbury, about 23 miles away.
Historic houses near Shepway include Stoneacre (1.4 miles east) and Leeds Castle (3.6 miles east). Where a historic venue does not allow live cooking, canapé tapas may still be possible; ask the venue. Parks such as Mote Park have their own rules for catering, so check before planning a party there. The Kent Downs National Landscape is within about 5 miles of Shepway, a lovely setting for a drinks reception outdoors.
We cook at events all over ME15. That could mean an event in a garden on Derby Road, Devon Road and Surrey Road. For events just outside Shepway, we cover Willington (1 mile east), Park Wood (1 mile south), Otham (1 mile south-east), Maidstone (1 mile north-west) and Weavering (1 mile north-east). Larger places within reach include Sittingbourne (10 miles north-east), Royal Tunbridge Wells (15 miles south-west), Gravesend (14 miles north-west), Tonbridge (12 miles west), Faversham (15 miles east) and Northfleet (15 miles north-west).
A little further out are KIMS hospital (2.2 miles north) and Allington Castle (3.1 miles north-west). The countryside around Shepway includes Detling Hill.
- Nearby schools include New Line Learning Academy (0.7 miles south-west) and Senacre Technology College (1.1 miles south-east)
- Local pubs include The Wheatsheaf pub (0.7 miles west)
- Cooked live in giant pans at your event
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal options
- Paella, tapas, canapés and desserts
- Sangria, bar staff, crockery and waiting staff